CELEBRATING POLYFEST

"Brutal Street fight filmed outside Polyfest"

"Video emerges of teenage girls fighting at Polyfest"

"Girl dragged by hair in shocking Polyfest Brawl"

The coverage of Polyfest by mainstream media has always been minimal. Despite the fact that this is one of the most populated events on the annual Auckland events landscape, Polyfest the biggest festival of its kind in the WORLD is rarely mentioned in the news, in any print or online coverage. 

But this year Polyfest did feature - it featured through the lens of violence and Pacific stereotyping that has always managed to characterise stories set in South Auckland.

While 100,000 Pacificans were celebrating the passion and fervour of the unique flavours of Polynesians, the media stories were fixated on 2 skirmishes outside the gates of Polyfest. 

Without going into the event itself, without mention of the purpose and context of the event, but instead mention of a bunch of kids throwing punches at the traffic lights.  Pacific 'thuggery' spilling out of the brown confines into suburbia. 

In celebration of the life affirming spirit of the Polyfest event and the many thousands of Pacificans who have been influenced by this epic festival of our identity, here are some moments, quotes and feels from Nesians past and present for whom Polyfest was a beacon of Poly passion and pride. 

FACT:  The annual event is now the largest Polynesian festival in the world AND the largest dance competition in the world! 

FACT:  Polyfest began at Hillary College, Otara in 1976 

FACT:  Polyfest was hosted at schools until it grew so big that in 1996 it moved to the current venue - Manukau Velodrome 

FACT:  The festival’s purpose was to demonstrate the students pride in their cultural identity and heritage and bring schools and the different cultures between them together

FACT:  This year alone, over 90,000 people attended Polyfest and over 9,000 high school children competed.

Photo by Evotia Tamua from the book 'Polynesian Festival' 

JOHANNA SETEFANO (Student at St Cuthbert's College)

"This is the 3rd year I've competed and performed at Polyfest in the Samoan Group.  Polyfest to me is a place where all Polynesians can share their cultures and experience others as well.  It's a place where we can be proud of our culture and learn many new things along the way.

Polyfest is also a place of unity between the Polynesian cultures.  It's a place where we can express our love for our culture through dancing, singing and competing against other schools.  This is very important so our culture is not lost and it will still be here for many generations to come. Also because it teaches us about our culture that we probably didn't know about before"

Johanna performing this year with the St Cuthberts College Samoan Group 

JOHNSON RAELA (Tagata Pasifika Presenter)

"I was in the Aorere College Cook Islands Group from 2002 - 2005 and the Samoan Group in 2005 as well.  Polyfest is important to me because it gave me the opportunity to not only learn my Cook Islands culture but also share it with my friends and those I came across.  As a teenager growing up in South Auckland, the Polyfest experience game me a positive sense of belonging in a country where news headlines are often negative towards Pasifika peoples, unless of course we're winning Sports Titles.  As an adult I'm proud to share my culture with the world and proud to tell people I'm a New Zealand born Cook Islander.  Even still today, I often talk about my Polyfest experiences.  I know if you ask any other Polyfest performer both past and present, they too will agree that it's an experience that I/we will treasure for life.  

Polyfest also gave me the opportunities to better understand another Pacific Island Culture as part of the Samoan (and Cook Islands) group in Year 13.  Polyfest not only gives you a sense of belonging in your own culture but also a chance to better understand another culture.  You only need to come to Polyfest during the week to see the different nationalities taking part in the various diversity stage groups.  You tell me another festival of this scale in the country that gives students the opportunity to learn a range of cultures.  There isn't one!

I interviewed Mr Patric Drumm who is the head master of MAGS  (and also the chair person for the Polyfest Trust) who did a study when he was principal of Aorere College.  Results found that kids who took part in Polyfest often had much better academic results than those who didn't"

Johnson reporting live from Polyfest this year for Tagata Pasifika.

ALAPATI TUPUOLA (Performer - Tatau Dance Group)

"I attended St Pauls College in 2005 - I was an import and had come to NZ on a Rugby Scholarship.  I was new to the NZ school system and 2 weeks after I arrived I joined the Samoan Group which helped me gain confidence and I was also able to adapt better - we were the Boys Section champs and I also won the Manaia category that year.  Polyfest also made me reconnected & kept my Fa'a Samoa alive right up until now.  I came back as a tutor to give back to the school and have tutored the St Pauls Samoan Group from 2013 - 2015 and then again this year. 

Polyfest is important to keep our culture & identity alive and it strengthens confidence and brotherhood.  It was also a great influence for me to be part of Tatau Dance Group.  Right now I use it as a vehicle to mentor every kid that comes through to keep them off the streets.  I work at a Mens Prison and I feel one of the main reasons they're there is because there's a cultural gap and they don't know their identity or who they are."

Alapati performing with his Tatau Dance Group on the Samoan Stage at Polyfest 2013 during a break

CHERELLE (Owner & Designer of Mareko Island Creations)

We've had a stall at Polyfest for going on 9 years now.  We fly over from Rarotonga once a year for both Polyfest and Pasifika to sell and to be part of the celebration.  It's great for us and we get so many kids coming through.  For us we sell Pareus or Lavalavas and they come in and they want to learn how to wear it because they see their parents wearing it but they don't know how to wear it and they don't know how to tie them.  

We had a bunch of Samoan boys who came in and I can't remember what school they're from but it started with one Samoan boy whose Dad had never taught him how to tie a lavalava so I tied his one and then he went back and grabbed a couple more mates.  Before you know it the whole lot of them were wearing their ie's and they were so proud!"

The boys all rocking their Mareko Lavalavas that they now know how to tie :)

CHARLIE POME'E (Lead Singer for Three Houses Down)

"I performed for St Paul's Tongan Group 2001 - 2004 on the Tongan Stage.  Being a part of Polyfest helped me understand my culture more.  Speaking the language is one thing, however understanding the stories of my ancestors was also important.  

Being a part of the Tongan Group also taught me values such as - respect, loving one another, uplift others, sharing and also brotherhood.  It's moulded me into the man I am today.  I can honestly say that I've applied these values to my everyday life."

Charlie performing on the Niuean Stage during their lunch break at this years Polyfest.

SHIMPAL LELISI (Niuean Actor - well known for his role as Sefa in Sione's Wedding)

"I was at Mount Albert Grammar School when it was all boys.  I joined in all the culture groups - Niue, Samoa, Cook Islands & Tongan group!  Polyfest to me is representing your culture & knowing where you're from as opposed to repping your hood.  

It's important because it's also the maintenance of culture.  It's so important for youth today in White Niu Sila.  Bob Marley says 'There's no future if you don't know your past"

Shimpal (Middle) with his Sione's Wedding castmates Robbie Magasiva, Iaheto Ah-Hi, Oscar Kightley & David Fane 

MALCOLM LAKATANI (Singer, Musician & Teacher)

"I've been a part of Polyfest since I was 3 years old.  My parents tutored Tamaki College Niuean Group and then the Avondale College Niuean Groups.  I was an Avondale College Niuean Group Member from 1995 until the end of 1999.  I've also been a tutor and teacher in charge of College groups for years.  Being part of the backstage team has always intrigued me because of the excitement and passion of all those involved one hundred percent.  

Polyfest is a celebration of Culture, language and dance.  It means the world to me as it is My identity.  Your Identity.  My belonging.  Your Belonging.  Who we are.  As People.  Why is it so important?  It's important to acknowledge each of us as individual cultures but also as one body as people"

Malcolm performing with Che Fu at Raggamuffin

Check out some of the Polyfest 2017 highlights on the Samoan & Tongan Stages 

Find out the Polyfest 2017 results plus highlights from the Cook Island & Niuean Stages 

Ei Katus or Head Leis seemed to be popular at Polyfest 2017 this year